Ripon Rowel (Day 2) | Sunday 25 March 2018


The Ripon Rowel – A Walk of Two Halves
(Walk Leaders: Jon & Wendy Leete)

Sunday – Sawley to West Tanfield – an entirely different day both the weather and the walking.  Oh, and numbers – now a magnificent 8.  If there was ever a beautiful spring day this was it.  Spring flowers in the hedges, lambs bleating and sunshine….sunshine…..!!!  I won’t go on – you get my drift.  It was a good day to test new boots!!  It’s a fact that mud sticks to new boots just as well as old ones!!  In contrast to yesterday we left north from Sawley traversing  Eavestone lake, the edge of Skelding moor before climbing up to Sighting Tower - used in years gone by to conduct surveys during the construction of the nearby Leighton reservoir and Roundhill reservoir.  Further on we enjoyed a lunch time stop a High Knowle Farm…known for the bivouac tents (and bisexual toilets!!) and not too far from the “Druid temples”.  We soon turned east towards and through the small rural market town of Masham and soon picking up the River Ure again; through  the very muddy Hackfall wood and back to West Tanfield.

Pictures - Jon & Wendy Leete

Pictures - Reg Tayler

Pictures - Robert Cope